The players certainly prefer to exit Cowell Stadium with a win. But many of them admit feeling they have a more important job to tackle.

Priority No. 1: Put on a good show.

That's the unofficial mantra for the inaugural New Hampshire East-West high school football all-star game Saturday (1 p.m.) at the University of New Hampshire.

“A lot of people are saying that,” 6-foot 6-inch, 250-pound West all-star Andrew Lauderdale, a UNH football recruit and tight end/defensive end for Trinity of Manchester, said when asked about the players' top priority. “There's some pressure (to perform).”

Here's why: The intrastate showcase featuring 72 recent high school graduates benefits Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) and the Kristen's Gift fund for pediatric oncology. The all-stars believe a well-played, competitive game will correlate to long-term interest and unmatched excitement.

Those factors could have a direct impact on future fundraising.

“There could be more people at the game next year — if we play a good game and it's enjoyable for the people who watch it,” said West all-star Nolan Cornell, an inside linebacker and fullback from Bishop Guertin of Nashua.

Cornell's comment isn't to suggest buzz for Saturday's game is minimal. It instead shows he — like so many of his fellow all-stars — realizes a memorable matchup builds momentum.

As of Tuesday night, 1,000 tickets were pre-sold. Better yet, a large walk-up crowd is expected; more than 2,200 coupon books each, including a ticket, were sold. Athletes from the East and West squads also combined to raise $40,000.

Team East's Adam Morin, Exeter's 6-foot-4, 270-pound lineman, said it best. The 2012 all-stars are writing the all-important first chapter to this book.

They have the state's attention. Can they keep it? “It's a privilege to be playing with these guys,” Morin said. “But it's a huge honor to be playing for the kids.”

- - - - - - - -

DID YOU KNOW the all-star teams are competing to raise funds? There's incentive to win, too.

The top fundraising squad is designated as the home team, which uses UNH football's locker room.

Team totals are within $225. Team West is leading. The competition ends Thursday night.

The top fundraising team will be announced during Friday's “All-Star Tailgate Banquet” at the Radisson Hotel Expo Center in Manchester (6 p.m.).

The top individual fundraiser will also be recognized at the banquet. The reward is a $500 scholarship as winner of the Dan Duval community service award.

- - - - - - - -

ONE PLAYER cracked $5,000. It's East all-star and Spaulding of Rochester lineman Dillon Couture ($5,025). West all-star and Manchester Central kicker Stephen Grzywacz is second ($4,850).

The top five fundraisers also include Exeter lineman Tim Stackhouse ($1,935), Hanover receiver Dan Gorman ($1,477.50) and Merrimack lineman Sam Prive ($1,327.50).

“Without the work of CHaD, I probably wouldn't be here, playing in this game,” said Couture, a St. Anselm recruit whose mother, as a baby, was treated for Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

PDA is a heart condition found in some babies shortly after birth, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. It involves abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery.

- - - - - - - -

TEAM WEST'S top challenge may be stopping Pinkerton Academy of Derry duo Kevin Davies and Emmitt Smith, and Salem's Jerickson Fedrick. It's possible they fill out Team East's backfield at the same time.

The trio last fall combined to rush for 4,649 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Davies, the 2011 Union Leader Player of the Year, ran for 1,350 yards and 19 TDs. Smith rushed for 1,457 yards and 16 TDs. Fedrick's totals were 1,842 and 22.

“I'm anxious to see how we all perform,” said the 5-foot-11, 204-pound Fedrick, set to attend Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., for a post-graduate year.

It's also possible Smith and Fedrick return kickoffs. Central's Grzywacz noted the duo returned three kicks against him in 2011.

Where will he kick the ball? “Maybe the 20-yard line,” Grzywacz said. “Leave one short and maybe kick it to Davies.”

- - - - - - - -

STAY TUNED for another announcement. Team captains for the East and West all-stars will be named later this week.

Marc Thaler covers high school football for the New Hampshire Union Leader & Sunday News. He co-hosts the “N.H. Sports Show” Saturday morning on WGIR-AM 610 and the Seacoast's 96.7. Send e-mails to mthaler@unionleader.com and follow him on Twitter: @marc_thaler.